Local political control in educational policy: Evidence from decentralized teacher pay reform under England's local education authorities
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In 2012, the School Teachers' Review Body discontinued central guidance and allowed school discretion in determining teachers' pay in England. Meanwhile, local education authorities (LEAs) offer non-statutory teacher pay recommendations to LEA-controlled schools. This study examines how LEAs' political party control determines their guidance regarding whether to adopt flexible performance pay or continue seniority-based pay. A regression discontinuity design is used to address the endogeneity of political control and educational policy-making. We find that marginally Conservative-controlled LEAs are more inclined to recommend market-oriented flexible pay structures. The results remain robust to alternative specifications. This study reveals that politics matter in England's local educational policy-making, which has broad implications for future policy.
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